By: Lashawn Gordon, AmeriCorps State & National Member Ensuring that shelters provide nutritious meals tailored to the dietary needs of children is essential for their health and development. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Children in shelters often face poor nutrition due to inadequate meal planning and a lack of resources for balanced diets. Studies have shown that shelter meals are often high in fat and low in essential nutrients, putting kids at risk for long-term issues like obesity and malnutrition (Koh et al., 2015). For example, research from San Francisco revealed that meals in shelters were seriously lacking in fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and E, while containing too much fat (Koh et al., 2015). These nutritional gaps can negatively affect children’s physical and mental growth, highlighting the urgent need for shelters to step up and prioritize healthy meals.
Many people don’t realize just how much proper nutrition impacts every part of a child’s life, from their overall health to how well they perform in school. One study on a nutrition education program for kids in urban homeless shelters found that better nutrition isn’t just about food—it’s about giving children the tools they need to thrive (Rodríguez et al., 2013). When kids eat nutritious meals, they’re more likely to focus, learn, and grow in ways that set them up for success later on. This is why having nutritionists and structured programs in shelters is so critical. Research shows that involving trained professionals in meal planning can make a huge difference in improving the quality of food served. These programs can also include counseling and education for both kids and their caregivers, teaching families how to build balanced diets even within the limitations of shelter life (Coufopoulos et al., 2012). On top of that, implementing standardized nutrition guidelines could go a long way in reducing the health disparities homeless children face (Wetherill, 2023). In the end, it all comes down to this: shelters need to provide meals that truly support kids’ nutritional needs. Doing so not only helps them grow and stay healthy now but also lays the groundwork for a better future. By focusing on nutrition and offering comprehensive dietary programs, shelters can play a powerful role in breaking the cycle of poverty and poor health that so many families struggle with.
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January 2025
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